Bangladesh vs India: A Historic Rivalry with Shocking Results!

Bangladesh and India have faced off 29 times in international football, with 13 draws, 13 victories for India, and just 3 wins for Bangladesh. Once considered fierce football rivals in South Asia, their encounters have sparked intense emotions and excitement on both sides of the border. Whether it was the matches filled with fiery passion or the high-stakes battles, these two countries have been locked in a footballing rivalry that goes beyond the sport.

However, times have changed. While India has progressed significantly in recent years, Bangladesh has struggled to keep pace, although recent performances under coach Javier Cabrera have shown promise. Players like Hamza Chowdhury and Shamit Shom have injected fresh energy into the team, rekindling fan interest. The proof of this is their most recent encounter in March 2023, where both teams played to a goalless draw in the Asian Cup qualifiers in Shillong. This match also marked the debut of Hamza Chowdhury for Bangladesh. Prior to that, a similar 0–0 draw occurred between the teams in 2021 during the SAFF Championship in Male.

The Unforgettable 2019 World Cup Qualifier

One of the most unforgettable encounters in recent years came in October 2019, during the World Cup and Asian Cup qualifiers. India and Bangladesh faced off in Kolkata in a match that reignited the rivalry’s old fire. Bangladesh was on the verge of a historic win but had to settle for a frustrating draw, leaving fans with mixed emotions.

Bangladesh’s Most Disastrous Matches

Bangladesh’s first encounter with India in international football came in 1978 at the Asian Games in Bangkok, where they were defeated 3–0. Another painful loss came in the 1997 SAFF Championship in Kathmandu, where Bangladesh led 0–0 until the 74th minute, only to lose 3–0 after brilliant performances from IM Vijayan and Baichung Bhutia.

Leading, but Losing: Bangladesh’s Heartbreaking Defeats

Bangladesh has experienced the agony of leading against India, only to fail to secure victory. In the 1985 World Cup qualifiers in Kolkata, Bangladesh was leading 1–0 but ended up losing 2–1. This pattern repeated itself in five other instances, including the 1989 SAFF Games in Islamabad, the 2013 SAFF Championship, the 2014 Goa friendly, and the 2019 World Cup qualifiers in Kolkata. Each match left Bangladesh wondering what might have been.

India’s Superiority on Neutral Grounds

When the two teams faced off on neutral grounds, India had the upper hand, winning the first encounter 3–0 at the 1978 Asian Games in Bangkok. Bangladesh, however, managed a 2–1 victory over India at the 1991 Colombo SAFF Championship, which remains one of their few triumphs on neutral turf. India then went on to win four consecutive matches, including at the 1994 Qatar Independence Cup, 1997 Kathmandu SAFF, 2000 Leicester friendly, and 2005 Karachi SAFF Final.

Bangladesh’s only victory over India on neutral ground since then came in the 1999 Kathmandu SAFF semi-finals.

The Epic Failures and Near-Misses

In the 1994 Doha Independence Cup, Bangladesh was handed a heavy blow in the opening 20 minutes, with goalkeeper Mohammad Mohsin’s blunder and poor defence allowing India to take a 3–0 lead. Despite a strong fightback, Bangladesh fell short and lost 4–2, with Imtiaz Ahmed Nokkib scoring both of Bangladesh’s goals.

Abu Dhabi: A Calm Stalemate

Abu Dhabi has become a neutral ground of sorts for the Bangladesh–India rivalry, with both teams drawing twice here—first 0–0 in the 1988 Asian Cup qualifiers and later 2–2 in 1999. Bangladesh’s two goals in the latter game were scored by Alfaz Ahmed.

Memorable Moments from the Rivalry

Over the years, there have been unforgettable goals that still linger in the memories of football fans. In 1985, Sheikh Mohammad Aslam’s stunning volley in the SAFF final against India remains a piece of football artistry. In the 1989 Islamabad SAFF Games, Nurul Haque Manik’s remarkable 25-yard strike put Bangladesh ahead against India. Similarly, in the 1999 Kathmandu SAFF, ‘super-sub’ Shahjahan Tipu’s long-range goal was a moment of glory as Bangladesh secured its first-ever gold medal in SAFF football.

The Agony of Penalty Shootouts

Penalty shootouts have been a source of frustration for Bangladesh in their encounters with India. In both the 1985 Dhaka SAFF final and the 1995 Colombo SAARC Gold Cup semi-final, Bangladesh fell short, losing 4–1 in the shootout after drawing 1–1 in regulation time.

Golden Goal Glory: Bangladesh’s 2003 Triumph

One of the high points in the Bangladesh–India football rivalry came in the 2003 SAFF Championship semi-final. The match was tied 1–1 after regular time, but in the 7th minute of extra time, Matiur Rahman Munna scored a golden goal to give Bangladesh a 2–1 victory over India, propelling them to the final.

Recent Encounters: The Battle Continues

In the 2013 SAFF Championship in Kathmandu, Bangladesh led 1–0 until the dying moments of the match, but Sunil Chhetri’s magical free-kick in injury time secured a 1–1 draw for India. A 2–2 draw followed in the 2014 Goa friendly, where India took the lead, only for Bangladesh to equalise and then briefly lead thanks to an own goal from India, before the score was levelled again.

In the most recent encounters between the two teams in 2021, India defeated Bangladesh 2–0 in the World Cup qualifiers, but two subsequent matches between the sides have ended in draws.

The Intensity of the Rivalry

From thrilling victories to heart-wrenching losses, the Bangladesh–India football rivalry continues to captivate fans. Though India has had the upper hand historically, Bangladesh’s recent performances show that the rivalry is far from over. With new talent emerging and the stakes higher than ever, every encounter between these two nations promises to be a clash of passion, pride, and unforgettable moments.

Table of Key Bangladesh-India Football Match Results